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Moreover Job continued his parable, and said, |
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Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me; |
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When his candle shined upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness; |
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As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God was upon my tabernacle; |
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When the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were about me; |
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When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil; |
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When I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared my seat in the street! |
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The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged arose, and stood up. |
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The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth. |
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The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth. |
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When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me: |
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Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him. |
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The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy. |
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I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem. |
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I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame. |
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I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out. |
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And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth. |
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Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand. |
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My root was spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch. |
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My glory was fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand. |
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Unto me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at my counsel. |
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After my words they spake not again; and my speech dropped upon them. |
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And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain. |
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If I laughed on them, they believed it not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down. |
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I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners. |